Geography, which is very important in understanding the place we live on, should be an area of interest for students rather than just a course. Geography education is an important subject in Turkey that has been offered in various institutions from pre-school to post-graduate education. The first geography course curriculum began to be implemented…

Almost eighty years ago, Lucy Sprague Mitchell, founder of Bank Street College of Education in New York City, wrote about social studies in ways that sound remarkably contemporary: "In the first place, we shall say that the curriculum should continue the laboratory methods, which means it should furnish the children with as many first-hand…

Outlines learning activities for applying geography's five fundamental themes to studying Antarctica and points out the learning potential, for studying the economic, historical, and political geography of the continent. Groups activities for grades K-5, 6-8, and 8-12. Stresses cooperative learning in general, and includes a role play activity for…

The climatic water budget model provides an analytical framework to help geography students examine the processes shaping the environment. Examples illustrate how the model can be used in geography classes. Two flow diagrams are presented to help students master quantification of water budget variables. (RM)

Environmental impact statements are informational documents representing a systematic study of long- and short-term relations between a proposed project and its environments (i.e. physical, social, economic, etc.), written for the layman, and easily adapted to the classroom for use in student research activities. (JR)

This secondary education student geography book contains chapters on climate, landforms, oceans, world vegetation, water resources, and population. Each chapter provides an introduction that describes the unit's topics, descriptive and instructional materials, learning activities, and questions. A glossary of geography-related terms and an…

Presents a secondary education geography lesson plan for teaching the theme of place and relative location. Provides samples of student materials. Using Japan as an example, shows how place and relative location can be used to study a country. (KO)

Provides instructional materials, tasks, and activities to supplement a unit on map reading. Presents a two-page color topographical map of Arthur's Pass (New Zealand). Includes learning activities covering reading grid references, estimating distances, cross-sections, and sketch mapping. Briefly discusses and illustrates digital terrain models.…

A theme issue of the Iowa State Historical Department magazine ("The Goldfinch") focuses on elementary readings and activities about Iowa prairie life. A total of 13 articles is included. In "History Makers," eight letters recount student and teacher prairie experiences. "The Prairie: Problems or Paradise?" recounts…

A workbook acquaints university undergraduates with the library, the basic reference tools of geographic research, and some of the specialized literature in geography. The first of five sections contains an activity for examining subject headings. Questions focus on using the "International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences," Library of Congress…

Suggests that the availability and application of good software for microcomputers enhances college teaching methods. Argues that, in population geography classes, spreadsheet programs are especially useful; they are easy to learn and are well suited for manipulating numbers representing demographic variables. Gives a sample template and macro for…

This document focuses on the physical environment of Wisconsin and describes how movement of glaciers during the Ice Ages formed Wisconsin's present topography. The journal contains short reading selections, stories, word lists, and activities designed to help elementary school students understand the causes and effects of glacial drift. Nine…

Elementary school students learn about the continents and the oceans by completing a variety of activities, games, and puzzles. Students learn to spell the names of the oceans and continents; recognize the locations, sizes, and shapes of the continents; and use directions on maps by completing a pretest, word searches, mazes, crossword puzzles,…

A packet of resources for helping students develop map skills is presented. The packet includes: 18 stencil masters of mapping exercises for elementary students; an aerial photograph; the course guide, entitled "A Course to Understand Maps," designed to help secondary students understand maps through problem solving; and a teacher's…

Recommends making choropleth maps as a fun and interesting way to teach geographic concepts. Choropleth maps represent data and ratios (population density, voter registration) and can be constructed easily. Includes suggested activities and representative maps. (MJP)